Hello readers! I apologize for not updating in a while. There was a period where I had to decide if I really wanted to continue with couponing. After a fresh batch of TLC episodes and reading a few chapters of How To Shop for Free, I have decided that the initial time and effort spent is well worth it! This post is to show how much I have saved since I started couponing. No one will be able to save 90-100% when they first start couponing, it is a process. I am happy to say that I have recently been saving 50% and I am motivated to continue to beat this number. I am going to get a filing cabinet that will really help with my organization and allow me to store a large number of inserts to take advantage of those free deals when they happen so that I can stock up. Here are my total savings and spending for the months of March and April, keep in mind, I did not start until mid-March. The first column is the amount saved with coupons, the second column is the total amount saved with coupons and store membership card, and the third is my out of pocket cost:
March Coupons Total Saved/OOP
Target 16.14 26.49/58.99
Wal Mart 3.80 3.8/63.46
Harris Teeter 42.68 89.01/55.2
Harris Teeter 25.97 34.98/35.67
CVS 12.99 12.99/0.65
Harris Teeter 0 10.58/38.78
Harris Teeter 9.10 13.09/8.83
Totals $110.68 $190.94/$261.58 saved 42%
April 1-15 Coupons Total Saved/OOP
Target 18.69 19.32/65.07
4.5 8.27/9.02
17.5 33.86/72.39
Food Lion 1 4.84/11.40
7 11.46/11.26
Wal Mart 1 1/52.89
Harris Teeter 10.50 53.57/39.53
CVS 40.83 88.50/34.37
CVS 21.47 37.02/1.09
Totals $122.49 $257.84/$297.02 saved 46%
April 16-30 Coupons Total Saved/OOP
Target 19 19/106.47 <----2 shirts, 2 dresses, a pair of pants and Claritin!
16.02 16.02/40.25
Wal Mart 0 0/9.68
Harris Teeter 3.59 3.59/.07 <---Free Stonyfield Farms Organic Whole Milk!
Totals 38.61 $38.61/$156.47 saved 20%
As you can probably tell, couponing took a backseat in the latter half of April as Andy and I reevaluated our budget and realized that, while we were saving a lot of money using coupons, we still weren't getting the things we needed. This is why couponing is a growth process, it will take some time to make it work for you. I have to admit that I almost threw out the whole thing, and Andy still wants me to, but I will learn from my mistakes and trudge ahead!
I have been encouraged by other couponers and realize that my mistakes are only all-to common with first time couponers. I will learn from my mistakes and continue. Stay tuned for more shopping trips and to see if I can beat my savings!! My goal for the month of May is to save at least 60%. Our monthly budget is $300 for my family of three. That means that if I can get $600 worth of groceries for that price, I'll be happy.
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